Alabama

LICENSURE

When you think of Alabama, your mind probably goes straight to cotton fields, sweltering summer heat and southern hospitality. Most people don't realize it also has mountains, canyons, and even pristine beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. The large north-south distance covered by the state gives it a lot of diversity in both geography and weather.

Alabama is the 30th largest state in size and ranks 23rd in population. It has the second largest inland waterway system with a total of 3.2% of the land consisting of water. While most of the state consists of gentle rolling hills gradually descending toward the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, the north and north-central part of the state are somewhat mountainous with many rivers, creeks and lakes.

North Alabama

The Tennessee River runs through Northern Alabama, creating a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains and cliffs. Little River Canyon National Preserve is the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi at 600 feet deep and offers a stunning view from Lookout Mountain. Noccalula Falls Park is located in Gadsden, AL and features a 90-foot waterfall and gorge walking trail.

Cheaha State Park

Central Alabama

While the northern part of the state is more mountainous, Central Alabama is home to Cheaha Mountain in Cheaha State Park, the highest point in the state at 2,413 ft. The state's largest city, Birmingham is located in Central Alabama as well as Tuscaloosa - a college town of the University of Alabama. NASCAR fans will want to swing by the Talladega Superspeedway just outside of Birmingham.

Dauphin Island

South Alabama

Beaches may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Alabama, but the 60 miles of white sandy beaches in South Alabama are some of the most beautiful in the U.S. Dauphin Island is a very popular barrier island with views that rival any beach in Florida. Other popular beach towns include Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

For more information and reviews about hospitals in Alabama, check out our Alabama Hospitals page on our resource website, Travel Nurse Help. You can also view hospitals in other states and leave reviews of your own for hospitals you've traveled to. If you've traveled to Alabama, we would love to hear about any fun places to visit in the comments below!